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The Scroll A Monthly Newsletter of SAM’s Lambs Webster NY 585-872-2281 October 1, 2005 |
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Greetings Lambs, We have some news on last minute social events, and our Tuesday night format. First, - SOCIAL NEWS: We've received word that Reflections, a really good band who plays 50's & 60's music will be playing at the Moose Lodge in Newark on Oct 29th and Nov 12th. We heard, clapped our hands, sang and danced to, their music this summer when we went to Connelly's Cove on Sodus Bay and we can promise a good time, for those of us who really dig that 50's and 60's music. A few of us have already committed to going on Nov 12th, but not sure if we can make it on Oct 29th as there are other events going on a closer to home that weekend. If you like good music, here's a couple more events - - a Western Jamboree and dinner at Mulligan's Pub next to the Sports Dome on Ridge West, near Manitou Rd, featuring George Hogan, guitarist and country western singer. Sunday Oct 23 2 - 6 pm, Cost is $8 and includes dinner. - Live big band music - Johnny Matt, and a couple of other well known
local bands at the Party House on Beahan Rd, off Chili Ave. Sunday Oct
30th from 2 - 6 pm. Cost - $5 at the door. We usually carpool to these events so you want to join us and carpool call our Voice Mail at 585-872-2281 VM # 3. Second, TUESDAY NIGHTS WITH SAM'S LAMBS: Starting November 1st, we will be changing the focus of our Tuesday night meetings to include faith and spiritual discussions, along with mutual support on singles lifestyle issues, and I will give you some background on what has led to this. A little background: Earlier this week, I had a meeting with our Rector and Leader/Shepherd, Father Lance Robbins, on the direction and activities of SAM's Lambs. Our current format has been to have open meetings for singles to drop-in and make new friends, or chat with old friends, without any reference to faith or religion. Initially we were set up to provide support and education through discussions, speakers, videos, books or other materials. While we had intended to provide mutual support through our Tuesday night discussions, we are not able to do that when we are not certain how many, or who, will be attending. We have used paid advertising in the D&C and local newspapers, with the D&C ad bringing the most responses to ads. While we have accumulated about 200 people on our mailing list, few of them attend events on a regular basis. This makes it very difficult to plan activities, when we don't have a chance to really get to know people and what they need or want. In reviewing our ad responses and attendees we have made a 'guess' at what people might be looking for, and since most came in through the D&C ad in the personals, we believe that most people may have mistakenly seen our Singles Ministry as a 'dating club' where they could meet someone who would become their permanent partner, rather than seeing it as the Fellowship group we intended. We have concluded that we should do what we know how to do - provide Christian fellowship and education in our support discussions. We have a wonderful library of materials at Good Shepherd, so we will be using videos, which we can watch together at the same time, followed by a discussion on how it applies to our single lifestyle, and expanding the discussions in any confidential and personal way we want to. Father Lance had intended to start a separate Singularity study group but if we include faith and spirituality discussions on Tuesday nights, we probably won't need to do that. Father Lance will not be present at all of the Tuesday night discussions, as he has other commitments on Tuesdays as well, but we could probably schedule an occasional night with him, to get our questions answered, and discuss our religion or faith concerns and how faith fits into our singles lifestyle. Our advertising will start to reflect our new focus, and we will see what the results will be. Responses could increase or decrease, but what we are aiming for is to have singles who are sincerely interested in making friends by attending events on a regular basis, and not necessarily just looking for a 'quick fix'. We will continue to have open social events, and especially our monthly Singles Feast. We may even expand the format there, with live music, or performers, and invite other singles groups to join us. But, we desperately need volunteers who will contribute their ideas and time to plan, and to work at events. I've always wanted to set up a Singles CoffeeHouse but I need help to do that, especially from people who have contacts with musicians, or performers who would work 'inexpensively'. If you have any ideas, or are willing to volunteer in any way, please attend a meeting and add your contact information to our Volunteer list. One last bit of news - I had invited our SAM's group to attend a special presentation on Sunday Oct 23 at 9 am, by Father Lance on 'Intelligent Design', but that has been postponed until Oct 30th. Father Lance flew down to Florida on Thursday to help his mother get out of the path of Wilma. He will be driving her North to friends in a State not threatened by Wilma. He will return on Monday or Tuesday. If you're not able to make it to the Oct 30th presentation, I will be taping it to add to the collection of his sermons, and articles in The Rev Says. I had started adding his sermons there and then got sidetracked, but I will get back at it. There is one or two there now that you can listen to and you'll see why our congregation loves his sermons. Well, this update has turned into an Epistle, so I will end it now, so I can finish dinner and clean up in time to see Numbers (the TV show, not the Gospel :). I hope to see you at our next Tuesday night meeting, and then at our 'meeting after the meeting' at Dunkin Donuts on North Ave in Webster. Perhaps, you can also join us on Nov 12th at the Reflections event. They made me feel like I was back in High School again, and with just as much vitality as then. One of our members has started playing with them, so that's another reason to attend, so we can cheer her on too. Have a good weekend whatever you do. Remember his Command - Betty Van Volkenburg Internet references: On Solo Flight: http://www.singlescenter.com/Publisher/solo.htm The Rev: Father Lance’s pearls for singles: |
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